December 31, 2021

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Mike Matson!

530 years ago
1491

Born on this date
Jacques Cartier. French explorer. Mr. Cartier, a native of Saint-Malo, Brittany, led expeditions for France in 1534, 1535-1536, and 1541-1542, becoming the first European to describe and map the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the shores of the Saint Lawrence River, which he named "The Country of Canadas" after the Iroquoian names for the two big settlements he saw at Stadacona (Quebec City) and at Hochelaga (Montreal Island). He entered and departed 50 undiscovered harbours without serious mishap or losing a ship, and was one of the first to formally acknowledge that the New World was a land mass separate from Europe/Asia. Mr. Cartier spent his later years in Saint-Malo and his nearby estate, and died during an epidemic, possibly typhus, on September 1, 1557 at the age of 65.

520 years ago
1501

War
The First Battle of Cannanore commenced at Cannanore, India between Portuguese Empire forces commmanded by João da Nova and the Zamorin people of Calicut. It marked one of the earliest recorded deliberate uses of a naval line of battle, and for resolving the battle by cannon alone. The battle ended in a Portuguese victory two days later.

330 years ago
1691

Died on this date
Robert Boyle, 64. Irish chemist and physicist. Mr. Boyle was one of the pioneers of the modern scientific method, and was best known for Boyle's law, which describes the inversely proportional relationship between the absolute pressure and volume of a gas, if the temperature is kept constant within a closed system. He's largely regarded today as the founder of modern chemistry; his book The Sceptical Chymist (1661) was a major text in the history of chemistry. Mr. Boyle was an alchemist, but his experiments were unsuccessful. He was a devout Anglican, and believed that evidence from nature could provide evidence for the existence of God. Mr. Boyle died from paralysis after more than 20 years of declining health.

225 years ago
1796

Americana
Baltimore was officially incorporated as a city.

140 years ago
1881

Crime
Charles Guiteau, recently convicted of the assassination of U.S. President James A. Garfield, wrote a New Year's greeting to his jailer.

110 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Dal Stivens. Australian writer. Mr. Stivens produced six novels and eight collections of short stories, often based on Australian folk tales, from 1936-1976, with his popularity peaking in the 1940s and '50s. He was also a naturalist and artist, and wrote non-fiction under several pseudonyms. Mr. Stivens died on June 15, 1997 at the age of 85.

100 years ago
1921

Died on this date
Boies Penrose, 61. U.S. politician. Mr. Penrose, a Republican, represented Philadelphia County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1885) and represented the 6th District in the Pennsylvania Senate (1887-1897). He represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate from 1897 until his death from a pulmonary thrombosis in his Washington penthouse in the last hour of 1921.

90 years ago
1931

Weather
Henderson Lake, British Columbia ended the year with a record total of 319.78 inches of rain, making it the wettest place on record in Canadian history.

Economics and finance
The Canadian stock index plunged 37.2% and Gross National Product declined 12.7%, making it the worst business year on record in the country.

80 years ago
1941

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): It's a Great Day for the Irish--Judy Garland; The Jesters (1st month at #1)

On television tonight
The first televised New Year’s Eve special aired on WNBT in New York. It consisted of entertainment from the Rainbow Room, atop the RCA Building in Rockefeller Center.

Died on this date
Sol Hess, 69. U.S. writer. Mr. Hess and Wallace Carlson created the comic strip The Nebbs in 1923, with Mr. Hess providing the writing and Mr. Carlson doing the illustrating. Mr. Hess died of a heart attack at his apartment in the Shoreham Hotel in Chicago. His daughter Betsy and her husband Stanley Baer took over the writing for The Nebbs after Mr. Hess's death, and by 1947 had folded the strip into another strip of theirs, The Toodle Family.

War
Admiral Chester Nimitz assumed command of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet in a simple ceremony at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Japan demanded that U.S. forces in the Philippines surrender, and rejected the designation of Manila as an open city. U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur reported that his forces were consistently falling back in the face of heavy Japanese assaults.

Diplomacy
Venezuela severed diplomatic relations with Germany, Italy, and Japan.

The German government announced that German Ambassador to Argentina Baron Edmund von Thermann had been recalled.

Politics and government
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Jesse Jones as a member of the Supply Priorities and Allocation Board.

Communications
The U.S. Justice Department extended its ban on the possession of shortwave wireless sets and hand cameras by enemy aliens to cover the entire country, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Business
The U.S. Justice Department filed civil suits in Chicago against the National Broadcasting Company and Columbia Broadcasting System, charging that through their ownership of key stations and the use of exclusive contracts the two chains almost completely dominated the country's broadcasting industry.

75 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Sioux City Sue--Bing Crosby; Kate Smith (1st month at #1)

War
U.S. President Harry S. Truman officially proclaimed the end of hostilities in World War II, terminating his emergency powers and 20 wartime control laws. He admitted that the move was an attempt to cooperate with the new Republican-controlled Congress.

World events
Yugoslavia released Ray Stoeckel, an American jailed on espionage charges.

Politics and government
The Soviet newspaper Izvestia assailed the merger of the British and American occupation zones in Germany as a violation of the 1945 Potsdam agreement.

The Republican Party steering committee voted to oppose the seating of Senator Theodore G. Bilbo (Democrat--Mississippi) in the new Congress to take office on January 3, 1947, because of speeches he had made in opposition to Negro voting, and accusations of graft. Mr. Bilbo had first been elected to the Senate in 1934.

Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in Japan General Douglas MacArthur stated in Tokyo that Japan had made "major advances" toward establishing a democratic social and political system.

Energy
U.S. President Truman signed an executive order turning the Army's atomic energy facilities over to the Atomic Energy Commission.

Health
Mexican cattle, sheep, goats, and hogs were banned from the United States because of an epidemic of hoof and mouth disease.

Labour
The U.S. National Labor Relations Board recognized the right of supervisory workers to organize when it ordered Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation to bargain with a United Mine Workers of America affiliate that accepted foremen as members.

70 years ago
1951

On television tonight
Lights Out, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Of Time and Third Avenue, starring Henry Daniell, Edward Gargan, and Bethel Leslie

Died on this date
Maxim Litvinov, 75. U.S.S.R. politician and diplomat. Mr. Litvinov, born Meir Henoch Wallach, joined the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (SDLP) in Kiev in 1898 when the party was an illegal organization, and adopted the name Maxim Litvinov. He was arrested in 1901 and spent 18 months in captivity, but escaped, and spent several years in exile in Geneva and London. Mr. Litvinov met V.I. Lenin in 1903, and joined the Bolsheviks, returning to Russia during the 1905 Revolution. He fled the country again in 1906, and lived in England from 1908-1918, returning to Moscow late in 1918. Mr. Litvinov served as a diplomat during the 1920s, advocating disarmament and favouring Soviet support of the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928, which outlawed war as an instrument of national policy. He proposed the Litvinov Protocol, in which signatories formally proclaimed themselves in mutual compliance with the goals of the Kellogg-Briand Pact. It was signed in Moscow in February 1929 by the Soviet Union, Poland, Romania, Latvia, and Estonia, and later by several other countries. Mr. Litvinov was People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union (1930-1939), and was successful in obtaining American recognition of the Soviet Union. He was dismissed for holding anti-German views, while dictator Josef Stalin was negotiating a non-aggression pact with Germany. Mr. Litvinov served as Soviet Ambassador to the United States (1941-1943), and was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (1943-1946), but was dismissed after giving an interview to an American journalist in which he stated his belief that war between the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. was inevitable. Mr. Litvinov reportedly died of a heart attack in Moscow after suffering serious heart problems, but there were rumours that he was assassinated on Mr. Stalin's instructions to the MVD (Interior Ministry), dying from injuries received after a truck deliberately collided with his car as he rounded a bend on the way to his dacha.

War
Communist negotiators at Panmunjom agreed to furnish information on 50,000 United Nations soldiers--mostly South Koreans--believed to have been taken prisoner but not accounted for on lists submitted by the Communist truce team.

Diplomacy
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden departed aboard the Queen Mary for New York. The purpose of the trip was to have talks with U.S. President Harry Truman in Washington, followed by a visit to Canada for talks with Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent.

Terrorism
Egyptian extremists announced that they would pay any "partisan patriot" $2,800 for killing British Suez Zone commander General George Erskine, and $280 for killing any other British officer.

World events
The Bolivian government ordered a New Year's Day amnesty for 35 members of the rightist National Revolutionary Movement exiled or jailed for participating in a revolutionary plot.

Energy
Inventor Philip Ohmart announded the development of a radioelectric cell capable of converting radioactive energy into electric energy.

Economics and finance
After distributing more than $13.3 billion in U.S. aid to European countries since 1948, the Marshall Plan expired; its functions would be taken over by the new U.S. Mutual Security Agency.

U.S. Mutual Security Administrator Paul Porter announced in Madrid that the United States would give Spain financial aid under a bilateral arrangement similar to Yugoslavia's.

Labour
United Steelworkers of America President Philip Murray ordered 30,000 Kaiser Aluminum and Aluminum Company of America workers to continue working under their old contracts through January 1947, ending the threat of a strike in the aluminum industry.

60 years ago
1961

Television
Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), Ireland's state broadcaster, launched its first national television service at 7 P.M., with an address by Irish President Eamon De Valera. Messages from John Cardinal d'Alton and Taoiseach Seán Lemass followed, and then a live concert, hosted by Radio Éireann chairman Eamonn Andrews, was broadcast from the Gresham Hotel in Dublin. The show, which was a countdown to the New Year, included appearances by tenor Patrick O'Hagan, the Artane Boys' Band, and Michael O'Hehir.

Music
The Beach Boys made their first live appearance, playing three songs--including their debut single, Surfin'-- as part of a Ritchie Valens memorial concert at Long Beach Civic Auditorium in Long Beach, California. Ike & Tina Turner were the headline act.

Football
NFL
Championship @ City Stadium, Green Bay
New York 0 @ Green Bay 37

Green Bay quarterback Bart Starr threw 2 touchdown passes to Ron Kramer and another to Boyd Dowler, and Paul Hornung rushed for a touchdown and kicked 4 converts and 3 field goals as the Packers routed the Giants before 39,029 fans in the first NFL championship game ever played in Green Bay. The score was 0-0 after the 1st quarter, but the Packers scored 24 points in the 2nd quarter and 10 more in the 3rd. It was Green Bay's first NFL championship since 1944, and their first under head coach Vince Lombardi. Hear the radio broadcast here, here, here, here, here, and here.



50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey--Paul & Linda McCartney (7th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Mamy Blue--Pop Tops (9th week at #1)

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 Mammy Blue--Charisma (10th week at #1)
2 Get Me Some Help--Neville Whitmill
3 Amen--Peanutbutter Conspiracy
4 Butterfly--Danyel Gerard
5 Cousin Norman--Marmalade
6 You--Peter Maffay
7 The Desiderata--Les Crane
8 Never Ending Song of Love--The New Seekers
9 Soley Soley--Middle of the Road
10 Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast--Daniel Boone

The only single entering the chart was Tokoloshe Man by John Kongos (#17).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)--The New Seekers
2 American Pie--Don McLean
3 Brand New Key--Melanie
4 Sunshine--Jonathan Edwards
5 Day After Day--Badfinger
6 Devil You--Stampeders
7 Have You Seen Her--Chi-Lites
8 All I Really Need is You--Sonny & Cher
9 Can I Get a Witness--Lee Michaels
10 Stay with Me--Faces

Singles entering the chart were Never Been to Spain by Three Dog Night (#26); Black Dog by Led Zeppelin (#27); White Lies, Blue Eyes by Bullet (#28); Mexican Lady by Steel River (#29); and Levon by Elton John (#30).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKVN)
1 American Pie--Don McLean
2 Day After Day--Badfinger
3 Sunshine--Jonathan Edwards
4 Life in the Bloodstream--The Guess Who
5 One Monkey Don't Stop No Show--The Honey Cone
6 Brand New Key--Melanie
7 I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)--The New Seekers
8 Respect Yourself--The Staple Singers
9 Love Me, Love Me, Love--Frank Mills
10 Hey Big Brother--Rare Earth

Singles entering the chart were Hallelujah by Sweathog (#27); I Turn to You by Spring (#33); Where Did Our Love Go by Donnie Elbert (#34); Anticipation by Carly Simon (#38); Mexican Lady by Steel River (#39); and Too True Mama by Crowfoot (#40).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Baby I'm-A Want You--Bread
2 Do I Love You--Paul Anka
3 Day After Day--Badfinger
4 I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)--New Seekers
5 Lonesome Mary--Chilliwack
6 Got to Be There--Michael Jackson
7 Take it Slow--Lighthouse
8 American Pie, Parts I and II--Don McLean
9 The Desiderata--Les Crane
10 I Don't Need No Doctor--Humble Pie
Pick hit of the week: Brand New Key--Melanie

Died on this date
Pete Duel, 31. U.S. actor. Mr. Duel, born Peter Deuel, appeared in several television programs and movies. He co-starred in the television comedy series Love on a Rooftop (1966-1967), but was best known for playing Hannibal Heyes (alias Joshua Smith) in the Western series Alias Smith and Jones (1971), which was in its second season when Mr. Duel, who was suffering from depression and drinking heavily, committed suicide by shooting himself.

Hal Weaver, 28. Canadian disc jockey. Mr. Weaver began his career at CKRD in Red Deer; he worked in Edmonton (CJCA), Hamilton (CKOC), Toronto (CHUM), and Vancouver (CJOR, CKVN) before dying of cancer.

40 years ago
1981

Hit parade
Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Physical--Olivia Newton-John (2nd week at #1)
2 Young Turks--Rod Stewart
3 Don't Stop Believin'--Journey
4 Leather and Lace--Stevie Nicks with Don Henley
5 Trouble--Lindsey Buckingham
6 Harden My Heart--Quarterflash
7 I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)--Daryl Hall & John Oates
8 Private Eyes--Daryl Hall & John Oates
9 Waiting for a Girl Like You--Foreigner
10 Why Do Fools Fall in Love--Diana Ross

Singles entering the chart were Tainted Love by Soft Cell (#18); and Hooked on Classics by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (#20).

Edmonton's Top 10 (CFRN)
1 Hooked on Classics--The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (3rd week at #1)
2 Leather and Lace--Stevie Nicks with Don Henley
3 Comin' In and Out of Your Life--Barbra Streisand
4 Yesterday's Songs--Neil Diamond
5 Harden My Heart--Quarterflash
6 Come Go with Me--The Beach Boys
7 I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)--Daryl Hall & John Oates
8 I Wouldn't Have Missed it for the World--Ronnie Milsap
9 Cool Night--Paul Davis
10 She's Got a Way--Billy Joel

World events
A coup d'état in Ghana removed President Hilla Limann's People's National Party (PNP) government and replaced it with the Provisional National Defence Council, led by Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings. Fl. Lt. Rawlings had previously seized power in June 1979, and handed it over to Mr. Limann and the PNP three months later.

30 years ago
1991

World events
As of this date, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ceased to exist, as all official Soviet Union institutions ceased operations.

Terrorism
17 Haitian Liberation Organization activists surrendered to police after occupying the Canadian Embassy in Port-au-Prince for six weeks.

25 years ago
1996

Died on this date
Wesley Addy, 83. U.S. actor. Mr. Addy was a character actor in numerous plays, television programs, and movies. His films included Seconds (1966); Tora! Tora! Tora! 1970) and The Verdict (1982).

Music
About 4,000 people made their way to the remote location of Canaan Downs, Tākaka, New Zealand to take part in the first Gathering, a two-day festival for electronic dance music fans.

20 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Eileen Heckart, 82. U.S. actress. Miss Heckart, born Anna Eileen Herbert, had a career spanning nearly 60 years, usually playing supporting roles in plays, movies, and television programs. She won numerous awards, including an Academy Award for her supporting performance in Butterflies are Free (1972); two Emmy Awards; and a Tony Award in 2000 for lifetime achievement. Miss Heckart died of lung cancer.

Politics and government
Eduardo Camano assumed the position of acting President of Argentina, the day after the resignation of interim President Adolfo Rodriguez Saa.

10 years ago
2011

Space
The United States succeeded in putting GRAIL A (Ebb), the first of two Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) satellites in orbit around the Moon. Grail B (FLow) followed 25 hours later. The spacecraft had been launched on September 10, 2011.



- 30 -

December 27, 2021

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Marilyn Draper!

500 years ago
1521

Religion
The Zwickau prophets--Nicholas Storch, Thomas Dreschel and Markus Stübner--arrived in Wittenberg after their exile from Zwickau, continuing their radical Reformation activities.

450 years ago
1571

Born on this date
Johannes Kepler. German astronomer and mathematician. Mr. Kepler was one of the most influential astronomers in history, best known for his laws of planetary motion. He believed that God created the world according to an intelligible plan that is accessible through the natural light of reason. Mr. Kepler's books included Astronomia nova (1609); Harmonices Mundi (1619); and Epitome Astronomiae Copernicanae (three volumes, 1618-1621). He served as imperial mathematician to Holy Roman Emperors Rudolf II, Matthias, and Ferdinand II, and while often criticizing astrology, devised horoscopes in order to make a living. Mr. Kepler died after a brief illness on November 15, 1630 at the age of 58.

300 years ago
1721

Born on this date
François Hemsterhuis. Dutch philosopher. Mr. Hemsterhuis wrote on aesthetics and moral philosophy. His philosophy has been characterized as Socratic in content and Platonic in form; its foundation was the desire for self-knowledge and truth, untrammelled by the rigid bonds of any particular system. Mr. Hemsterhuis died on July 7, 1790 at the age of 68.

260 years ago
1761

Born on this date
Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly, 56. Russian military officer and politician. Prince Michael was a Field Marshal in the Imperial Russian Army who was best known for his military reforms and leadership during the 1812 invasion of Russia by French forces commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte. Prince Michael was Governor-General of Finland from 1809-1810. He died while on a visit to Germany on May 26, 1818 at the age of 56.

250 years ago
1771

Died on this date
Henri Pitot, 76. French physicist and engineer. Mr. Pitot was a hydraulic engineer who invented the Pitot tube, and designed the Aqueduc de Saint-Clément near Montpellier and the extension of Pont du Gard in Nîmes.

190 years ago
1831

Exploration
English naturalist Charles Darwin began his voyage to the New World aboard the HMS Beagle.

140 years ago
1881

Born on this date
António Granjo. Prime Minister of Portugal, 1920, 1921. Mr. Granjo was a lawyer and a republican who was first elected to the National Constituent Assembly in 1911, resigning to serve in World War I. He was President of the Municipal Chamber of Chaves (February-July 1919) and was elected to the Chamber of Deputies later in 1919 as a member of the Evolutionist Party, which soon merged into the Republican Liberal Party. Mr. Granjo led coalition governments from July 19-November 20, 1920 and August 30 until his forced resignation and assassination at the age of 39 on October 19, 1921 as part of the military insurrection known as Bloody Night.

125 years ago
1896

Born on this date
Louis Bromfield. U.S. author and conservationist. Mr. Bromfield won the 1927 Pulitzer Prize for his novel Early Autumn; his other novels incuded The Rains Came (1937) and Mrs. Parkington (1943). He operated a farm in Ohio, and was one of the first modern champions of organic and self-sustaining farming. Mr. Bromfield died on March 18, 1956 at the age of 59.

120 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Irene Handl. U.K. actress. Miss Handl was a character actress who appeared in more than 100 movies, as well as numerous television programs, in a career spanning 50 years. Her films included Night Train to Munich (1940); Spellbound (1945); and Brief Encounter (1945). Miss Handl died of breast cancer on November 29, 1987, four weeks before her 86th birthday.

Marlene Dietrich. German-born U.S. actress and singer. Miss Dietrich became a star in her native land with her appearance in The Blue Angel (1930), and then moved to Hollywood, where her movies included Morocco (1930); Blonde Venus (1932); Desire (1936); Destry Rides Again (1939); A Foreign Affair (1948); Witness for the Prosecution (1957); Touch of Evil (1958); and Judgement at Nuremberg (1961). Miss Dietrich was an opponent of Germany's Nazi regime and aided the Allied effort in World War II. She narrated the documentary Black Fox: The True Story of Adolf Hitler, which won the Academy Award as best documentary feature of 1962. Miss Dietrich was known for performing the songs Falling in Love Again and Lili Marlene. She died of kidney failure on May 6, 1992 at the age of 90.

110 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Anna Russell. U.K.-born Canadian musician. Miss Russell, born Anna Russell-Brown, was a pianist and singer known for her parodies of operas, reaching the peak of her popularity in the 1960s. She died on October 18, 2006 at the age of 94.

Indianica
Jana Gana Mana, the national anthem of India, was first sung in the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress.

80 years ago
1941

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Chattanooga Choo Choo--Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (Vocal refrain by Tex Beneke and the Four Modernaires) (4th week at #1)

War
Japanese planes bombed the undefended open city of Manila for 40 minutes in the morning and 3 hours 22 minutes in the afternoon, starting huge fires. The U.S.S.R. announced the capture of Likhvin, Vysokinichi, Novosil, and Tim on the front southwest of Moscow.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill, continuing their talks in Washington, assured representatives of Axis-occupied countries that the United States and United Kingdom would do everything possible to restore their independence after World War II. Mr. Roosevelt announced that "excellent progress" had been made during the conferences of 26 Allied governments in Washington to prosecute the war on a worldwide scale.

Society
U.S. Attorney General Francis Biddle issued an order requiring all Japanese, German, and Italian aliens in seven Pacific Coast states to surrender their shortwave radio sets and cameras to local police.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Office of Production Management issued an order, effective immediately, restricting the manufacture of new farm machinery in the 12-month period beginning November 1, 1941 to 83% of 1940 production.

Labour
Federal spokesmen announced that the American Federation of Labor Amalgamated Association of Street, Electric Railway and Motor Coach Employes had agreed to end the six-day strike by 1,500 Greyhound drivers and submit the dispute to arbitration.

Disasters
Lisbon was rocked by a severe earthquake at 6:25 P.M.

Football
NCAA
Blue-Gray Game @ Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, Alabama
Blue 16 Gray 0

75 years ago
1946

War
Fighting between French forces and Vietnamese nationalists spread to Cochin, China, where 24 civilians were killed.

Economics and finance
Albania and Yugoslavia ratified a pact providing for economic collaboration.

The U.S. State Department announced that it would release $19.3 million in Polish assets frozen in the United States and $27.5 million in gold to the current Polish government.

U.S. Reconstruction Finance Corporation Director George Allen resigned after urging that the agency be reduced to a lending institution for banks and small businesses.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission authorized a 10% rate increase by Western Union Telegraph Company.

Cuba's cabinet raised the wages of all public employees $5-$10 monthly.

Tennis
With Jack Kramer and Ted Schroeder winning the men's doubles event in Melbourne, the United States won the Davis Cup for the first time since 1938.

70 years ago
1951

Movies
The New York Film Critics Circle Awards for 1951 were announced. The winners were: Picture--A Streetcar Named Desire; Director--Elia Kazan (A Streetcar Named Desire); Actor--Arthur Kennedy (Bright Victory); Actress--Vivian Leigh (A Streetcar named Desire); Foreign Language Film--Miracolo a Milano (Miracle in Milan).

War
U.S. and Communist truce teams in Panmunjom failed to conclude an armistice by midnight, thus nullifying the November 27 agreement on a Korean cease-fire line.

World events
The Romanian government announced the execution of five Romanians convicted by a military court of spying for the United States.

Politics and government
Former Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen announced in Philadelphia that he would seek the 1952 Republican Party nomination for President of the United States.

Crime
Communist Party U.S.A. official Gus Hall was sentenced in New York to an additional three years in prison for jumping bail to escape his five-year sentence for conspiracy.

Transportation
The first right-hand drive automobile for the delivery of mail in the United States was put into service in Cincinnati.

Economics and finance
Brazilian President Getulio Vargas signed a bill enabling the government to control prices and buy and sell essential goods.

Labour
The United Steel Workers of America's Wage Policy Committee cancelled a strike scheduled for January 1, 1952, leaving the strike decision up to a special convention to open January 3 in Atlantic City.

Olympics
Soviet press announced that the U.S.S.R. would enter the Summer Olympic Games in 1952 for the first time since the participation of pre-Soviet Russia in 1912.

60 years ago
1961

At the movies
The Outsider, directed by Delbert Mann, and starring Tony Curtis, James Franciscus, and Bruce Bennett, opened in theatres in Los Angeles.



50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Imagine--John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Ame no Midōsuji--Ouyang Fei Fei (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Mammy Blue--Pop-Tops (10th week at #1)

Diplomacy
Delegates representing 18 Arab countries met in Cairo to discuss plans for coordinating military and economic strategy against Israel.

40 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): How Great Thou Art--Howard Morrison (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Sharazan--Al Bano & Romina Power

Died on this date
Hoagy Carmichael, 82. U.S. musician and songwriter. Mr. Carmichael, one of the best-known American songwriters of the first half of the 20th century, wrote such standards as Stardust and Georgia on My Mind. He appeared in several movies, usually as a pianist. In the last year or two of his life, Mr. Carmichael appeared in a television commercial for recordings of his greatest hits; the ad began with a clip of Ole Buttermilk Sky, followed by Mr. Carmichael saying, "Ole Buttermilk Sky; they don't make 'em like that anymore--maybe they shouldn't."

Hockey
NHL
Los Angeles (13-20-3) 3 @ Edmonton (24-8-6) 10

Wayne Gretzky scored 4 goals and 1 assist to set the league record for the fastest 100 points in a season, helping the Oilers rout the Kings at Northlands Coliseum. Mr. Gretzky was playing his 38th game of the season, breaking Phil Esposito's mark of 51 games set in 1970-71. Mr. Gretzky's goals game him 45 for the season. Steve Bozek scored all 3 Los Angeles goals.

Football
NFL
AFC Wild Card Playoff
Buffalo 31 @ New York Jets 27

See video.

NFC Wild Card Playoff
New York Giants 27 @ Philadelphia 21



25 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Breathe--The Prodigy (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): 2 Become 1--Spice Girls (2nd week at #1)

War
Taliban forces in Afghanistan recaptured the strategic Bagram Airfield, which solidified their buffer zone around Kabul.

20 years ago
2001

Abominations
The United States announced plans to hold Taliban and Al-Qaeda prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

U.S. President George W. Bush permanently normalized trade relations between the U.S.A. and China.

Politics and government
Movement for Multi-Party Democracy candidate Levy Mwanawasa was elected President of Zambia, receiving 29.15% of the vote. United Party for National Development candidate Anderson Mazoka was second with 27.20% of the vote, with nine other candidates also participating. The Movement for Multi-Party Democracy won a plurality of seats in the 159-seat National Assembly, but their total of 69 seats was a decrease of 62 from before the election. Five new parties won at least one seat; the United Party for National Development, in its first election, was second with 49 seats.

10 years ago
2011

Died on this date
Johnny Wilson, 82. Canadian-born U.S. hockey player and coach. Mr. Wilson, a native of Kincardine, Ontario, played left wing with the Detyroit Red Wings (1950-55, 1957-59); Chicago Black Hawks (1955-57); Toronto Maple Leafs (1959-61); and New York Rangers (1961-62), scoring 332 points on 161 goals and 171 assists in 688 regular season games and 14 goals and 13 assists in 66 playoff games. He set a record, since broken, of 580 consecutive regular season games played (1951-60), including 8 straight complete 70-game seasons. Mr. Wilson helped the Red Wings win four Stanley Cup championships (1950, 1952, 1954-1955). He coached at Princeton University (1965-67) and then in the minor leagues, leading the Springfield Kings to the Calder Cup championship in 1971. Mr. Wilson coached the Los Angeles Kings (1969-70); Detroit Red Wings (1971-73); Colorado Rockies (1976-77); and Pittsburgh Penguins (1977-80) in the NHL, compiling a record of 187-241-89. He coached in the World Hockey Association with the Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974-75) and Cleveland Crusaders (1975-76), compiling a record of 56-93-9. Mr. Wilson coached Canada's entry in the 1977 IIHF World Championships, leading the team to a fourth-place finish in Canada's first appearance in the tournament in eight years. He settled in the Detroit area, and died of pulmonary fibrosis.

December 23, 2021

250 years ago
1771

Died on this date
Marie-Marguerite d'Youville, 70. Canadian nun. Mrs. d'Youville, a native of Varennes, Quebec, was a widow who suffered the death of her husband and four of her six children before the age of 30, but experienced a religious revival, and in 1737 with three other women founded an association that ministered to the poor in Montreal. The association became the Roman Catholic order The Sisters of Charity of Montreal--popularly known as the Grey Nuns--in 1744, and was granted an order in 1747 to operate Montreal General Hospital. Mrs. d'Youville died in Montreal, and was canonized in 1990 by Pope John Paul II.

125 years ago
1896

Born on this date
Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. Italian nobleman and author. Don Giuseppe Tomasi, the last Prince of Lampedusa, served with the Italian Army in World War I, and was an Austro-Hungarian prisoner of war; he inherited his title upon the death of his father in 1934. Don Giuseppe Tomasi died of lung cancer on July 23, 1957 at the age of 60, but didn't become widely known until the posthumous publication of his novel Il Gattopardo (The Leopard) (1958), which was made into a movie in 1963.

110 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Niels Kaj Jerne. U.K.-born Danish immunologist. Dr. Jerne, whose Danish parents moved to London the year before his birth, moved to the Netherlands with his family in 1914, and eventually settled in Denmark. He shared the 1984 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Georges J.F. Köhler and César Milstein "for theories concerning the specificity in development and control of the immune system and the discovery of the principle for production of monoclonal antibodies." Dr. Jerne died on October 7, 1994 at the age of 82.

James Gregory. U.S. actor. Mr. Gregory was a character actor on stage, screen, and television in a career spanning more than 45 years. He was known for his gravelly voice and playing detectives, and starred as New York Police Detective Barney Ruditsky in the television series The Lawless Years (1959-1961), and Inspector Frank Luger in the comedy series Barney Miller (1975-1982). Mr. Gregory's best-known movie role was probably as the Joe McCarthy-like Senator Johnny Iselin in The Manchurian Candidate (1962). He died on September 16, 2002 at the age of 90.

90 years ago
1931

Died on this date
Wilson Bentley, 66. U.S. meteorologist and photographer. "Snowflake" Bentley, a lifelong resident of Jericho, Vermont, was the first known person to take detailed photographs of snowflakes and record their features, catching flakes on black velvet in such a way that their images could be captured before they either melted or sublimated. He took the first of more than 5,000 photos of snowflakes in 1885. Mr. Bentley died of pneumonia.

80 years ago
1941

War
At a joint press conference in Washington with U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that their meetings were being devoted to the immediate question of achieving complete unanimity of action in the Pacific. The first meeting of the U.S.-U.K. War Council was held in the White House. The U.S. oil tanker SS Montebello was sunk by Japanese submarine I-21 off the coast of California; 33 survivors were rescued. After 15 days of fighting, the Imperial Japanese Army occupied Wake Island. Japanese planes carried out a heavy raid on Rangoon. The Battle of Lingayen continued "with increasing intensity" on Luzon. The British command announced that Imperial forces in Libya reached the coastal plain of the Gulf of Sidra south of Bengazi the previous day.

Politics and government
Chinese Prime Minister Chiang Kai-shek appointed T.V. Soong as Foreign Minister.

Crime
A U.S. federal grand jury in Washington indicted aviatrix Laura Ingalls on a charge of failing to register as a German agent.

Religion
Pope Pius XII authorized Roman Catholic bishops throughout the world to permit Catholics in their dioceses to eat meat on Fridays and omit certain fast days for the duration of World War II.

Labour
U.S. President Roosevelt accepted a three-point war labour peace plan agreed upon by the 24-man labour-industry conference board in Washington. The plan called for "no strikes or lockouts;" settlement of all disputes "by peaceful means;" and establishment of "a proper War Labor Board to handle these disputes."

70 years ago
1946

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Ole Buttermilk Sky--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Michael Douglas and the Campus Kids) (2nd week at #1)
--Hoagy Carmichael
--Helen Carroll and the Satisfiers
--Paul Weston and his Orchestra with Matt Dennis
2 Rumors are Flying--Frankie Carle and his Orchestra
--The Andrews Sisters with Les Paul
--Betty Rhodes
--Tony Martin
3 The Old Lamp-Lighter--Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye (Vocal refrain by Billy Williams and Choir)
--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra
--Hal Derwin
4 (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons--King Cole Trio
--Eddy Howard and his Orchestra
5 The Whole World is Singing My Song--Les Brown and his Orchestra
6 This is Always--Harry James and his Orchestra
--Jo Stafford
7 The Things We Did Last Summer--Frank Sinatra
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
8 Five Minutes More--Frank Sinatra
--Tex Beneke and the Glenn Miller Orchestra
--The Three Suns
9 Huggin' and Chalkin'--Hoagy Carmichael
--Johnny Mercer
--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra
10 To Each His Own--Eddy Howard and his Orchestra with Eddy Howard and Trio
--The Ink Spots
--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra with Stuart Wade
--Tony Martin
--The Modernaires with Paula Kelly

Singles entering the chart were Years and Years Ago by Les Brown and his Orchestra (#26) and Hoodle-Addle by the Ray McKinley Quartet (#28).

On the radio
The Casebook of Gregory Hood, starring Elliott Lewis and Howard McNear, on MBS
Tonight`s episode: The Spirit of Christmas

Diplomacy
The United Kingdom rejected a Soviet request for a "further exchange of views" on control of the Dardanelles.

Defense
U.S. President Harry Truman set up a three-man board to review the cases of draft violators and make recommendations for executive clemency.

Politics and government
French Prime Minister Leon Blum reiterated France's recognition of Vietnam's independence within the French Union, but insisted that order be restored before negotiations could begin on the composition of the Vietnamese government.

Crime
Three men were indicted in Atlanta for arson in the December 7, 1946 fire at the Winecoff Hotel, in which 119 people perished.

Law
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to review a suit on the constitutionality of Tennessee's poll tax on the grounds that Congress had jurisdiction in such matters.

Religion
The U.S. Supreme Court ordered new trials for two Jehovah's Witnesses sentenced to five years in prison as conscientious objectors, stating that they were not allowed to challenge draft classifications which barred their deferment as ministers.

Health
The U.S. Office of Temporary Controls dropped distribution control of penicillin.

Agriculture
The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization reported that a food crisis still confronted the world, with food production still below pre-World War II levels.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that collection of federal social security taxes from bankrupt companies had priority over state taxes.

General Lucius Clay, deputy U.S. military governor in Germany, protested a French decision to set up a customs barrier between the Saar and the rest of Germany.

The U.K. announced that it would send a Treasury delegation to India to negotiate the settlement of India's wartime debt of $5.2 billion.

Sport
An Associated Press poll of sportswriters named Babe Didrikson Zaharias as the outstanding female athlete of 1946 in the United States.

70 years ago
1951

On television tonight
Out There, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Man, starring Florence Anglin, Philip Bourneuf, and Stewart Bradley

World events
A Hungarian military court imposed fines totalling $120,000 on four U.S. fliers shot down in November in a C-47 transport plane.

Bolivia exiled 15 right-wing extremists arrested for participating in a recent revolutionary plot.

Labour
Hungary denied a British Broadcasting Corporation report that 80 Hungarian coal miners had been shot for organizing a work slowdown in the Tatabanya mines.

Football
NFL
Championship
Cleveland 17 @ Los Angeles 24

Just 25 seconds after Ken Carpenter's 5-yard touchdown rush, converted by Lou Groza, had brought the Browns into a 17-17 tie midway through the 4th quarter, Rams' quarterback Norm Van Brocklin completed a 73-yard touchdown pass to Tom Fears, converted by Bob Waterfield, to provide the winning margin before 59,475 fans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. After a scoreless 1st quarter, Dick Hoerner of the Rams opened the scoring in the 2nd quarter with a 1-yard touchdown rush, converted by Mr. Waterfield. Mr. Groza got Cleveland on the scoreboard with a 52-yard field goal, a record length for an NFL championship game. The Browns took a 10-7 halftime lead on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Otto Graham to Dub Jones, converted by Mr. Groza. In the 3rd quarter, Mr. Graham fumbled when hit by the Rams' Larry Brink, and Andy Robustelli returned the ball from the Cleveland 24-yard line to the 2. Three plays later, Dan Towler rushed 1 yard for a touchdown, and Mr. Waterfield's convert gave Los Angeles a 14-10 lead going into the 4th quarter. The lead became 17-10 when Mr. Waterfield kicked a 17-yard field goal. It was the first NFL championship game to be televised from coast-to-coast in the United States. It was broadcast on the DuMont network (which had paid $95,000 to the NFL for the rights), with Harry Wismer and Earl Gillespie as the announcers.



60 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): My Boomerang Won't Come Back--Charlie Drake (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: La ballata della tromba--Nini Rosso

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Weiße Rosen aus Athen--Nana Mouskouri (10th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Dutch Top 40): I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door--Eddie Hodges (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Tower of Strength--Frankie Vaughan (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Lion Sleeps Tonight--The Tokens (3rd week at #1)
2 Please Mr. Postman--The Marvelettes
3 Walk on By--Leroy Van Dyke
4 Run to Him--Bobby Vee
5 The Twist--Chubby Checker
6 Goodbye Cruel World--James Darren
7 Can't Help Falling in Love--Elvis Presley
8 Peppermint Twist - Part I--Joey Dee & the Starliters
9 Moon River--Jerry Butler
--Henry Mancini, his Orchestra and Chorus
10 Let There Be Drums--Sandy Nelson

Singles entering the chart were Irresistible You (#76)/Multiplication (#80) by Bobby Darin; Pocketful of Miracles by Frank Sinatra (#92); Do-Re-Mi by Lee Dorsey (#93); and But on the Other Hand Baby by Ray Charles and his Orchestra (#100).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Norman--Sue Thompson
2 The Wanderer--Dion
3 The Twist--Chubby Checker
4 Walkin' with My Angel--Bobby Vee
5 Run to Him--Bobby Vee
6 Hey! Little Girl--Del Shannon
7 Jingle Bell Rock--Bobby Helms
--Bobby Rydell/Chubby Checker
8 Peppermint Twist--Joey Dee & the Starliters
--Danny Peppermint and the Jumping Jacks
9 The Lion Sleeps Tonight--The Tokens
10 Walkin' Back to Happiness--Helen Shapiro

Singles entering the chart were Dear Ivan by Jimmy Dean (#16); Percolator (Twist) by Billy Joe & the Checkmates (#32); Well I'm Your Man by Johnny Tillotson (#40); Lucky Star by Gene Vincent (#44); and What are You Doing New Year's Eve by Dante and the Evergreens (#50). Well I'm Your Man was the B-side of Dreamy Eyes, charting at #27.

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 The Twist--Chubby Checker (2nd week at #1)
2 The Wanderer/The Majestic--Dion
3 Peppermint Twist--Joey Dee & the Starliters
4 Walkin' with My Angel/Run to Him--Bobby Vee
5 Six White Boomers--Rolf Harris
6 The Lion Sleeps Tonight--The Tokens
7 Norman--Sue Thompson
8 Jingle Bell Rock--Bobby Rydell/Chubby Checker
--Bobby Helms
9 Gypsy Rover--The Highwaymen
10 Multiplication--Bobby Darin

Singles entering the chart were Memories of Maria by Jerry Byrd and his Guitar (#19); Dear Ivan by Jimmy Dean (#26); Walkin' Back to Happiness by Helen Shapiro (#28); Percolator (Twist) by Billy Joe & the Checkmates (#30); Let Me Down Easy by the Glaser Brothers (#33); Just a Little Bit Sweet by Charlie Rich (#38); Milk and Honey by Eddie Fisher (#39); and Love is the Sweetest Thing by Saverio Saridis (#40).

Died on this date
Carolyn Sherwin Bailey, 86. U.S. authoress. Miss Bailey wrote short stories and novels for children in a career spanning more than 40 years. Her novel Miss Hickory (1946) was awarded the 1947 Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature.

Kurt Meyer, 51. German SS officer. SS-Brigadeführer Meyer joined the Nazi Party in September 1930, and joined the SS in October 1931. He participated in numerous campaigns in World War II, and several times ordered the mass murders of civilians and prisoners of war, receiving a death sentence for ordering the murders of Canadian POWs in the Ardenne Abbey massacre in 1944. SS-Brigadeführer Meyer's sentence was commuted to 14 years, and he was released on good behaviour in 1951. He became active in Hilfsgemeinschaft auf Gegenseitigkeit der Angehörigen der ehemaligen Waffen-SS (HIAG), a lobby group dedicated to rehaibilitating the reputation of the SS. SS-Brigadeführer Meyer suffered from heart and kidney disease in later years, and died on his 51st birthday, after a series of strokes.

50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Le rire du sergent--Michel Sardou (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): O Holy Night--Tommy Drennan

Died on this date
Glenn Wallichs, 61. U.S. businessman. Mr. Wallichs opened several radio stores and two recording studios in the Los Angeles area before opening Wallichs Music City at the corner of Sunset and Vine in Hollywood in 1940. It became the largest record store in southern California and the world's largest specialty record store. On February 7, 1942, Mr. Wallichs and songwriters Johnny Mercer and Buddy DeSylva founded Capitol Records. Mr. Wallichs left the record store in 1946 in charge of his brother Clyde, and eventually became chairman of Capitol Industries. He died after a long illness.

Politics and government
Nationalist China's governing Kuomintang announced that the first national elections since 1947 would be held in May 1972. President Chiang Kai-shek had always refused to hold elections pending his government's return to mainland China, when all Chinese could participate.

Health
U.S. President Richard Nixon signed a bill to implement a much-expanded research attack on cancer. 137 guests, including many research scientists, were at the White House for the occasion.

Economics and finance
The Canadian Parliament passed the Capital Gains Tax, effective January 1, 1972, Valuation Day.

Quebec Finance Minister Raymond Garneau announced to the National Assembly a provincial tax policy aimed at harmonizing Quebec's tax laws with those of Canada.

40 years ago
1981

Politics and government
Historian George Francis Gillman Stanley of Sackville took office as Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick, succeeding Hédard Robichaud.

30 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Piece of My Wish--Miki Imai (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Live and Let Die--Guns N' Roses

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Let's Talk About Sex--Salt-N-Pepa (6th week at #1)

Politics and government
A Gallup Poll reported that support for sovereignty-association in Québec has dropped to 47% from 61% in May 1990.

Business
Toronto-based Grafton-Fraser announced its intention to close 221 Jack Fraser, George Richards, Grafton & Co, Madison, and Bimini stores, eliminating 1,700 full-time and part-time jobs.

25 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Child--Mark Owen (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Don't Speak--No Doubt

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Time to Say Goodbye--Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Canada (RPM): Head Over Feet--Alanis Morissette (6th week at #1)

20 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Bola Ige, 71. Nigerian politician. Mr. Ige, a Yoruba, was a lawyer before entering politics; he was Commissioner for Agriculture (1967-1970) in the Western Region of Nigeria in the military government of General Yakubu Gowon. Mr. Ige joined the Unity Party of Nigeria in the late 1970s, and was Governor of Oyo State (1979-1983). He was defeated in his bid for re-election, successfully challenged the result, but was deposed by a coup led by Generals Muhammadu Buhari and Tunde Idiagbon. Mr. Ige was accused of enriching himself with party funds and was detained for two years, but was released in 1985 and resumed his law practice. When democracy was returned to Nigeria in 1999, Mr. Ige returned to politics as a member of the Alliance for Democracy, serving as Nigeria's Minister of Power and Steel (1999-2000) in the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney in January 2000; in November 2001 he declared that the Sokoto State government would not be allowed to enforce the death penalty by stoning against Safiya Hussaini, a woman convicted of adultery. Mr. Ige was entangled in squabbles within the Alliance for Democracy, which resulted in the murder of Osun State legislator Odunayo Olagbaju, the week before Mr. Ige was gunned down at his home in Ibadan. All those charged in Mr. Ige's murder were acquitted.

Politics and government
Adolfo Rodriguez Saa was sworn in as interim President of Argentina, and immediately announced the suspension of payment on the external debt in the biggest debt default in history.

10 years ago
2011

Died on this date
Bill Hall, 65. U.S. broadcaster. Mr. Hall was a weatherman and anchorman with Nashville television station WSMV from 1974-2005.

December 18, 2021

750 years ago
1271

Asiatica
Kublai Khan renamed his empire "Yuan" (元 yuán), officially marking the start of the Yuan dynasty of Mongolia and China.

160 years ago
1861

Born on this date
Lionel Monckton. U.K. composer. Mr. Monckton was Britain's leading composer for musical theatre during the Edwardian era, composing music for shows such as A Country Girl (1902); The Arcadians (1909); and The Boy (1917). He died on February 15, 1924 at the age of 62.

120 years ago
1901

Agriculture
William Motherwell founded the Territorial Grain Growers' Association (later the Saskatchewan Grain Growers' Association) at a meeting in the Indian Head Planing Mill in Indian Head, Northwest Territories; the TGGA adopted resolutions dealing with such important matters as the appointment of a warehouse commissioner, loading platforms and car shortages.

110 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Jules Dassin. U.S.-born film director. Mr. Dassin was known for film noir dramas such as Brute Force (1947); The Naked City (1948); and Night and the City (1950), but went to Europe in the early 1950s after being blacklisted in Hollywood. He achieved success in France and Greece, directing movies such as Rififi (1955) and Never on Sunday (1960). Mr. Dassin died on March 31, 2008 at the age of 96.

100 years ago
1921

Football
APFA
Chicago Cardinals (3-3-2) 0 @ Chicago Staleys (9-1-1) 0
Canton (5-2-3) 28 @ Washington (1-2) 14

The season ended with the Staleys, playing their last game under that name, claiming the American Professional Football Association championship over the Buffalo All-Americans, who had finished their season two weeks earlier with a record of 9-1-2.

70 years ago
1941

War
Japanese troops crossed the Lye Mun Passage after dark, in assault boats, landing craft and small boats towed by ferry steamers, to attack Hong Kong. Two platoons of the Winnipeg Grenadiers were deployed to seize the hills known as Jardine's Lookout and Mount Butler, where they engaged in intense fighting; heavily outnumbered, they were cut to pieces, and both platoon commanders were killed. British authorities in Malaya conceded that Imperial troops had fallen back about 100 miles in northern Malaya during the past 11 days. The Netherlands government-in-exile announced in London that Dutch and Australian forces had occupied the Portuguese section of the island of Timor. The British command announced that Axis forces in Libya "are now in full retreat." The U.S. Senate voted 79-2 in favour of its own draft bill making men aged 19-44 subject to military service. 100 enemy aliens seized in the San Francisco area were sent to a concentration camp in Montana. Noted American aviatrix Laura Ingalls was arraigned in Washington on a charge of failing to register as a paid agent of the German government.

Diplomacy
The U.S. State Department reported that an agreement had been reached for neutralizing the French possessions in the Caribbean area, including Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana.

Politics and government
The U.S. Senate Elections Committee voted 13-3 to recommend that the Senate bar William Langer (Republican--North Dakota) from taking his seat, on the grounds of moral turpitude. Sen. Langer had repeatedly been accused of attempting to bribe a federal judge.

Academia
Dr. Willard C. Rappleye of the Association of American Medical Colleges announced that 76 medical schools were planning to reduce their present four-year courses to three years by operating on a year-round basis because of war needs because of war needs for doctors.

75 years ago
1946

Movies
The U.S. National Board of Review of Motion Pictures listed the best films of 1946 as: Henry V; Open City; The Best Years of Our Lives; and Brief Encounter.

British Kinematograph Weekly reported that James Mason was the most popular British movie star of 1946.

Diplomacy
Sir William Fitzgerald, U.K. chief justice of Palestine, recommended the division of Jerusalem into Jewish and Arab sectors.

Crime
Four German prisoners of war were hanged at the Lethbridge Provincial Jail in Alberta for the murder of fellow prisoner Corporal Karl Lehmann at the Medicine Hat POW camp in September, 1944.

Politics and government
Union Nationale candidate Daniel Johnson was elected to the Quebec Legislative Assembly in a provincial by-election in Bagot; he received 4,725 votes to 3,585 for Liberal candidate Roland Bailly and 40 for independente Unionist Georges de Grandpré. The by-election was necessitated by the death of Liberal MLA Cyril Dumaine.

Science
Carl Anderson and Robert Brode reported the discovery of new high-energy cosmic rays.

Defense
The father of Henry Stewart, a Negro who had allegedly been refused enlistment in the United States Army on racial grounds, filed suit in Pittsburgh to stop further enlistment until segregation was banned.

Economics and finance
The Allied Far Eastern Commission in Washington eased Japan's reparations schedule to help the Japanese government combat inflation.

U.S. military authorities in Berlin banned the use of cigarettes for trading in the officially approved barter markets.

A bill to nationalize all of Britain's transport was approved by the House of Commons on its second reading.

70 years ago
1951

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Pier 17, starring Lawrence Fletcher, Paul Langton, and Joe Mantell



War
Communist and American truce teams exchanged lists of Korean War prisoners in Panmunjom. Among prisoners listed by the Communists was General William Dean, U.S. Army 24th Infantry Division commander, and Colonel James Carne, commander of Britain's Gloucestershire Regiment.

World events
The Bolivian government announced the suppression of a revolutionary plot with the arrest of 30-40 members of the external National Revolutionary Movement.

Diplomacy
The International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled in favour of Norway's four-mile territorial water limit.

U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill and French Prime Minister René Pleven ended a two-day conference in Paris by announcing that Britain would work "as closely as possible" with the Western European army and the European Coal and Steel Community without joining either institution.

U.K. Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden and Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohammed Salah el-Din Bey conferred in Paris, but made "no decisive progress" toward settlement of the Sudan-Suez dispute.

Agriculture
The U.S.A. announced that it would send Jordan 9,650 tons of wheat to help relieve "a serious food shortage."

Economics and finance
Leading New York commercial banks raised their prime lending rates from 2.75% to 3%, the highest since 1923.

The U.S. National Production Authority banned the issuance of new automobile license plates for 1953 as a conservation measure.

60 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Moliendo Café--Lucho Gatica (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): L'Auto-circulation--Henri Tisot (7th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 The Lion Sleeps Tonight--The Tokens
2 Please Mr. Postman--The Marvelettes
3 Run to Him--Bobby Vee
4 The Twist--Chubby Checker
5 Walk on By--Leroy Van Dyke
6 Goodbye Cruel World--James Darren
7 Let There Be Drums--Sandy Nelson
8 Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen--Neil Sedaka
9 Big Bad John--Jimmy Dean
10 Peppermint Twist - Part I--Joey Dee & the Starliters

Singles entering the chart were Baby it's You by the Shirelles (#65); A Little Bitty Tear by Burl Ives (#73); Twist-Her by Bill Black's Combo (#76); Do-Re-Mi by Lee Dorsey (#82); Room Full of Tears by the Drifters (#83); Multiplication by Bobby Darin (#86); Pocketful of Miracles by Frank Sinatra (#87); Seven Day Fool by Etta James (#95); Lost Someone by James Brown and the Famous Flames (#96); Pushin' Your Luck by Sleepy King (#98); I Could Have Loved You So Well by Ray Peterson (#99); and You Don't Have to Be a Tower of Strength by Gloria Lynne (#100). Pocketful of Miracles was a version of the title song of the movie.

On the radio
Macabre, on USAFRS Far East Network
Tonight's episode: The Avenger

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Carleton Hobbs and Norman Shelley, on BBC
Tonight's episode: Charles Augustus Milverton

On television tonight
Thriller, hosted by Boris Karloff, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Remarkable Mrs. Hawk, starring Jo Van Fleet, John Carradine, Paul Newlan, and Bruce Dern



At the movies
Pocketful of Miracles, directed by Frank Capra, and starring Glenn Ford, Bette Davis, Hope Lange, and Arthur O'Connell, received its premiere screening in New York City.





Died on this date
Leo Reisman, 64. U.S. musician. Mr. Reisman was a popular violinist and bandleader who recorded more than 80 charted singles in a career spanning more than 40 years. Eddy Duchin and Mitch Miller were among the musicians who were members of his orchestra.

50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Mammy Blue--Charisma (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Pensiero--Pooh (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)--Benny Hill (2nd week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Maggie May/Reason to Believe--Rod Stewart (2nd week at #1)
2 Banks of the Ohio--Olivia Newton-John
3 Mammy Blue--Joel Dayde
4 Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves--Cher
5 Love is a Beautiful Song--Dave Mills
6 Peace Train--Cat Stevens
7 Speak to the Sky--Ricky Springfield
8 Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey--Paul & Linda McCartney
9 Imagine--John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
10 A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall--Leon Russell

Singles entering the chart were Day by Day by Colleen Hewitt (#32); Sweet City Woman by the Stampeders (#36); Military Madness by Graham Nash (#37); and Wedding Song (There is Love) by Paul Stookey (#39).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 How Do You Do--Mouth & MacNeal
2 Non, Non, Rien N'a Changé--Poppys
3 Pappie Loop Toch Niet Zo Snel--Herman Van Keeken
4 I Will Return--Springwater
5 Without a Worry in the World--Rod McKuen
6 Schön ist es auf der Welt zu sein--Roy Black + Anita
7 Soley Soley--The Middle of the Road
8 Out of Sight, Out of Mind--Shocking Blue
9 Coz I Luv You--Slade
10 Reason to Believe/Maggie May--Rod Stewart

Singles entering the chart were (Is This the Way to) Amarillo by Tony Christie (#23); No Matter How I Try by Gilbert O'Sullivan (#31); 'k Heb Niks Gezien by Sjakie Schram (#35); Maxigold - Twéé-In-Één-Single by the Spencer Davis Group (#37); and Vrede by Ben Cramer (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Family Affair--Sly & the Family Stone (3rd week at #1)
2 Brand New Key--Melanie
3 Have You Seen Her--Chi-Lites
4 An Old Fashioned Love Song--Three Dog Night
5 Got to Be There--Michael Jackson
6 Theme from Shaft--Isaac Hayes
7 Baby I'm-A Want You--Bread
8 All I Ever Need is You--Sonny & Cher
9 American Pie - Parts I and II--Don McLean
10 Cherish--David Cassidy

Singles entering the chart were It's One of Those Nights (Yes Love) by the Partridge Family (#57); Levon by Elton John (#80); Make Me the Woman that You Go Home To by Gladys Knight & the Pips (#83); You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth by the Undisputed Truth (#87); So Many People by Chase (#88); She's All I Got by Johnny Paycheck (#91); Keep on Keeping On by N.F. Porter (#94); Open the Door (Song for Judith) by Judy Collins (#96); Don't Say You Don't Remember by Beverly Bremers (#98); Without You by Nilsson (#99); and Keep Playin' that Rock 'n' Roll by Edgar Winter's White Trash (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Family Affair--Sly & the Family Stone (4th week at #1)
2 Brand New Key-Melanie
3 Got to Be There--Michael Jackson
4 An Old Fashioned Love Song--Three Dog Night
5 Theme from Shaft--Isaac Hayes
6 Cherish--David Cassidy
7 Rock Steady--Aretha Franklin
8 All I Ever Need is You--Sonny & Cher
9 Have You Seen Her--Chi-Lites
10 Scorpio--Dennis Coffey and the Detroit Guitar Band

Singles entering the chart were Happy Xmas (War is Over) by John Lennon/Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir (#63); Levon by Elton John (#73); Everybody Knows About My Good Thing Pt 1 by Little Johnny Taylor (#81); Black Dog by Led Zeppelin (#83); Keep on Keeping On by N.F. Porter (#95); What's Going On by Quincy Jones (#96); Scratch My Back (And Mumble in My Ear) by Clarence Carter (#97); Bang a Gong (Get it On) by T. Rex (#98); and Do the Funky Penguin Part I by Rufus Thomas (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Have You Seen Her--Chi-Lites (2nd week at #1)
2 Family Affair--Sly and the Family Stone
3 Brand New Key-Melanie
4 Got to Be There--Michael Jackson
5 An Old Fashioned Love Song--Three Dog Night
6 Baby I'm-A Want You--Bread
7 Cherish--David Cassidy
8 All I Ever Need is You--Sonny & Cher
9 American Pie--Don McLean
10 Respect Yourself--The Staple Singers

Singles entering the chart were Sugar Daddy by the Jackson 5 (#48); Happy Xmas (War is Over) by John Lennon/Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir (#55); Those were the Days by Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton (as the Bunkers) (#70); Carolyn by Merle Haggard and the Strangers (#79); Black Dog by Led Zeppelin (#80); Love Gonna Pack Up (And Walk Out) by the Persuaders (#83); Space Captain by Barbra Streisand (#84); Without You by Nilsson (#85); Once You Understand by Think (#87); Love Potion Number Nine by the Coasters (#89); Five Hundred Miles by Heaven Bound with Tony Scotti (#90); No Good to Cry by the Poppy Family (#91); The Harder I Try (The Bluer I Get) by Free Movement (#9); Fire and Water by Wilson Pickett (#99); and Scratch My Back by Clarence Carter (#100).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Family Affair--Sly and the Family Stone
2 Theme from Shaft--Isaac Hayes
3 Got to Be There--Michael Jackson
4 The Desiderata--Les Crane
5 Baby I'm-A Want You--Bread
6 An Old Fashioned Love Song--Three Dog Night
7 Cherish--David Cassidy
8 Devil You--Stampeders
9 Brand New Key--Melanie
10 Lonesome Mary--Chilliwack

Singles entering the chart were Sugar Daddy by the Jackson 5 (#88); Too True Mama by Crowbar (#90); Uncle Jed by Perth County Conspiracy (#93); Devil Song by Aarons and Ackley (#94); Black Dog by Led Zeppelin (#96); I Turn to You by Spring (#97); No Sad Songs by Helen Reddy (#98); Whiskey Fire by Magic Bubble (#99); and The Witch Queen of New Orleans by Redbone (#100).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Lonesome Mary--Chilliwack (2nd week at #1)
2 Baby I'm-A Want You--Bread
3 Do I Love You--Paul Anka
4 The Desiderata--Les Crane
5 Take it Slow--Lighthouse
6 I Don't Need No Doctor--Humble Pie
7 Got to Be There--Michael Jackson
8 Everybody's Everything--Santana
9 Sour Suite--The Guess Who
10 Questions 67 and 68--Chicago
Pick hit of the week: (I Know) I'm Losing You--Rod Stewart with Faces

Died on this date
Bobby Jones, 69. U.S. golfer. Mr. Jones, one of the greatest golfers in history, won the Grand Slam (U.S. and British amateur championships, U.S. and British Opens) in 1930. He played in 31 major tournaments, winning 13. Mr. Jones retired from competitive golf in 1930 and appeared as himself in two series of instructional films that were released in 1931 and 1933, with several episodes featuring Hollywood stars in guest roles. Mr. Jones co-founded the Augusta National Invitation Tournament in 1934, and renamed it the Masters in 1938. He practiced law in Atlanta after his retirement from golf, but in 1948 was diagnosed with syringomyelia; his mobility gradually declined, and he was using a wheelchair when he died from a chest aneurysm.

Diana Lynn, 45. U.S. musician and actress. Miss Lynn, born Dolores Loehr, was a child prodigy as a concert pianist before turning to acting, appearing in almost 70 movies and television programs from the early 1940s through the mid-1960s. She was best known for appearing in comedy films such as The Major and the Minor (1942); The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944); and Bedtime for Bonzo (1951), as well as three movies starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Miss Lynn died nine days after suffering a stroke.

Crime
Thieves stole over $1 million from a Windsor, Ontario branch of the Royal Bank of Canada. Six people were arrested several days later.

Economics and finance
The International Monetary Fund approved the new pattern of exchange rates among the world's leading currencies. The decision made legal an agreement reached the day before by a group of 10 leading industrial countries, who had recommended that currencies be permitted to fluctuate 2.25% above and below the new par values.

Football
NFL
St. Louis (4-9-1) 12 @ Dallas (11-3) 31

40 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Ooa hela natten--Attack (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Bensonhurst Blues--Oscar Benton

Bensonhurst Blues was from the movie Pour la peau d'un flic (For a Cop's Hide) (1981).

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 Endless Love--Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (4th week at #1)
2 Going Back to My Roots--Odyssey
3 It's My Party--Dave Stewart with Barbara Gaskin
4 It's You, It's You, It's You--Joe Dolan
5 Urgent--Foreigner
6 Dancing on the Floor (Hooked on Love)--Third World
7 Prince Charming--Adam & the Ants
8 Start Me Up--Rolling Stones
9 Wired for Sound--Cliff Richard
10 Under Pressure--Queen & David Bowie

Singles entering the chart were Die Royal Hotel by David Kramer (#14); and Tainted Love by Soft Cell (#18).

Defense
The Soviet heavy strategic bomber Tupolev Tu-160, the world's largest combat aircraft, largest supersonic aircraft, and largest variable-sweep wing aircraft, made its first flight, with test pilot B.I. Veremey at the controls.

30 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Black or White-- Michael Jackson (5th week at #1)

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Pfeiffer's Choice

Law
Québec completed a major overhaul of the Civil Code, governing all non-criminal law, after 35 years of reform.

Education
Daniel Johnson, president of Quebec's Permanent Ministerial Committee for Montreal Development, announced, during the presentation of Montreal's recovery plan, the creation of a graphic communications technology resource centre. The institution would provide businesses with services as well as training for their workforce; it was post-college training but not university.

25 years ago
1996

Died on this date
Irving Caesar, 101. U.S. songwriter. Mr. Caesar, born Isidor Keiser, wrote lyrics for such songs as Swanee; Crazy Rhythm; and Tea for Two. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972.

Television
U.S. television industry executives agreed to adopt a content ratings system, which remains in effect to this day.

20 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Marcel Mule, 100. French musician and educator. Mr. Mule was perhaps the greatest classical saxophonist in history, playing in quartets and as a featured soloist from the 1920s until his retirement in 1967. He taught at the Paris Conservatoire for more than 20 years, and wrote several instructional books.

Dimitris Dragatakis, 87. Greek musician and composer. Mr. Dragatakis began his career in classical music as a violinist, but switched to viola and played with the Greek National Opera for 20 years. He incorporated Greek musical traditions into his own works, which included six symphonies, concertos, orchestral, choral, and chamber works.

Gilbert Bécaud, 74. French musician and actor. Mr. Bécaud, born François Gilbert Léopold Silly, was a popular pianist, singer, and songwriter who had a career spanning 50 years and was known as "Monsieur 100,000 Volts" for his energetic performances. His best known song was Et maintenant (1961), which was covered by many artists as an instrumental, and with English lyrics, as What Now, My Love?. Mr. Bécaud appeared in several movies and television programs, and died of lung cancer.

Politics and government
The Parliament of France approved a bill giving slightly more autonomy to Corsica.

Terrorism
The Canadian Senate passed Bill C-36, the federal government's anti-terrorist legislation; police were given new powers of surveillance, arrest, and detention.

Economics and finance
The Canadian federal and provincial governments unanimously rejected American proposals regarding softwood lumber. While the Americans imposed customs sanctions on Canadian softwood lumber, Canada was demanding full access to the American market, without any limits.

10 years ago
2011

Died on this date
Václav Havel, 75. President of Czechoslovakia, 1989-1992; President of the Czech Republic, 1993-2003. Mr. Havel was a playwright who used an absurdist style to criticize the Communist system in plays such as The Garden Party (1963) and The Memorandum (1965). He participated in the Prague Spring liberalization in 1968 and was a prominent dissident until the Velvet Revolution toppled Czechoslovakia's Communist regime in 1989. Mr. Havel served as the last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of the Czech Republic after Slovakia became independent in 1993. He was instrumental in dismantling the Warsaw Pact, and supported direct democracy and civil activism, and supported the Czech Green Party from 2004 until his death from circulatory failure after a period of declining health.

December 15, 2021

230 years ago
1791

Politics and government
The United States of America ratified the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, popularly known as the Bill of Rights. The ratification took effect when the Virginia General Assembly gave its approval.

160 years ago
1861

Born on this date
Charles Duryea. U.S. automobile executive. Mr. Duryea was the engineer of the first American gasoline-powered car that worked, which was given its first successful road test in Springfield, Massachusetts on September 20, 1893. He and his brother Frank founded the Duryea Motor Wagon Company in Springfield in 1896. The company ceased production in 1917. Charles Duryea died on September 28, 1938 at the age of 76.

P.E. Svinhufvud. Prime Minister of Finland, 1930-1931; President of Finland, 1931-1937. Mr. Svinhufvud was a leader of the movement for Finnish independence and was the country's first head of state, as Chairman of the Senate from 1917-1918 and Regent from May 18-December 12, 1918. He was a conservative known for his opposition to Communism. Mr. Svinhufvud died on February 29, 1944 at the age of 82.

130 years ago
1891

Born on this date
A.P. Carter. U.S. musician. Alvin Pleasant Delaney Carter was a country singer-songwriter and guitarist who, with his wife Sara, founded the Carter Family band in 1927. A.P. and Sara separated in 1939 and divorced in 1943, and Mr. Carter eventually left the music business and ran a general store in Virginia. He died on November 7, 1960 at the age of 68. Mr. Carter was inducted into the the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970, and was inducted as part of the Carter Family into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970.

Basketball
James Naismith devised the rules of basketball in Springfield, Massachusetts, inspired by a childhood game called duck-on-a-rock. He had been asked by staff of the YMCA's Springfield Training College to devise a good indoor physical education activity to keep a group of incorrigible students busy during the winter months.

125 years ago
1896

Born on this date
Betty Smith. U.S. authoress. Mrs. Smith wrote four novels, but was best known for her first, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1943). She died of pneumonia on January 17, 1972 at the age of 75.

110 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Stan Kenton. U.S. musician. Mr. Kenton was a jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader who achieved commercial success in the 1940s and early '50s, with six singles reaching the top ten of the Billboard singles chart. Beginning in the late '40s, he became a pioneer in the field of progressive jazz, forming several different bands over the next three decades, performing and recording several genres of music. Mr. Kenton was a leader in jazz education; he founded the Stan Kenton Band Clinic at Indiana University in 1959, and was conducting over 100 clinics a year by 1975. Heavy drinking affected his later years; he died on August 25, 1979 at the age of 67.

Nicholas P. Dallis. U.S. psychiatrist and author. Dr. Dallis practiced psychiatry in Toledo, Ohio after World War II, and got the idea that he would like to write a comic strip about the history of medicine. He created and wrote the comic strips Rex Morgan, M.D. (under the pseudonym Dal Curtis); Judge Parker (under the pseudonym Paul Nichols); and Apartment 3-G. Dr. Dallis died on July 6, 1991 at the age of 79.

100 years ago
1921

Born on this date
Alan Freed. U.S. disc jockey. Mr. Freed was working at WJW in Cleveland in 1951 when he began playing rhythm and blues records on his program, The Moondog House. On March 21, 1952, Mr. Freed presented The Moondog Coronation Ball at Cleveland Arena, which has been credited with being the first rock and roll concert. Mr. Freed moved to New York, working at WINS and then WABC. He hosted his own television program and appeared as himself in several movies, all of which featured numerous performances by rock and roll artists. When the payola scandal broke in 1959--record companies paid disc jockeys to play their records--Mr. Freed was the most prominent of those who lost their jobs. He had difficulty holding a steady job after that, and years of heavy smoking and drinking caught up with him and hastened his death on January 20, 1965 at the age of 43, broke and all but forgotten. Mr. Freed was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1986.

Politics and government
Quebec's governing Liberal Party increased its majority in the Legislative Assembly by winning four provincial by-elections by acclamation. Joseph-Hugues Fortier, Louis-Philippe Mercier, Joseph-Pierre-Cyrénus Lemieux, and Minister Jacob Nicol were elected respectively in Beauce, Trois-Rivières, Wolfe, and Richmond.

80 years ago
1941

On the radio
We Hold These Truths, on CBS, NBC Red, NBC Blue, Mutual

We Hold These Truths, a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Bill of Rights, was written and produced by Norman Corwin, and was the first program ever carried on all four major networks. An estimated 63 million people listened, the largest ever for a dramatic performance on radio.

War
The U.S.S.R. announced that Klin, northwest of Moscow, had been recaptured together with Yasnaya Polyana and Bogoroditsk, south of Tula. A communique from Singapore reported that British forces in northeastern Malaya were retreating slowly, inflicting heavy casualties on Japanese mechanized troops. U.S. Navy Secretary Frank Knox reported on the losses in the December 7 Japanese attack on the naval base at Pearl Harbor Hawaii. He stated that six warshipd had been lost and several others damaged, and that almost 3,000 men had been killed. Mr. Knox said that U.S. forces were "not on the alert against the surprise air attack" and added that "a formal investigation" would be initiated immediately.

Defense
The U.S. Congress completed action on the conference-approved $10,000,077,005 supplemental defense appropriation bill and sent it to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mr. Roosevelt reported to Congress that Lend-Lease aid to the Allies during the past nine months had reached $1.202 billion.

Abominations
German troops murdered over 15,000 Jews at Drobytsky Yar, a ravine southeast of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

Academia
Yale University President Charles Seymour announced that the university would operate on a year-round basis so that students could complete their studies in less than three years, instead of four.

Labour
The American Federation of Labor adopted a no-strike policy in all defense industries.

Football
NCAA
For the only time in its history, the Rose Bowl game was moved from Pasadena, California to Durham, North Carolina, with the date of January 1, 1942 remaining unchanged. The relocation took place at the request of the United States Army amid fears of a Japanese invasion of the west coast of the United States.

75 years ago
1946

War
Nationalist Chinese sources reported strong Communist attacks on the fortress city of Yulin in the northern part of the province of Shensi.

Kurdish nationalist leader Ghazi Mohammed surrendered to Iranian forces after the capture of Mehabad, capital of the province of Kurdistan.

Diplomacy
The United Nations General Assembly admitted Siam as its 55th member nation.

The executive committee of the World Zionist Congress suspended six members of the Zionist Revisionist Union of America for requesting United Nations discussion of the Palestine problem and appealing for funds to support "underground fighters."

Economics and finance
U.S. officials in Vienna completed a proposed four-year reconstruction plan for Austria.

Scandal
Telephone wiretaps showed that gambler Alvin Paris had tried to bribe New York Giants' fullback Merle Hapes to fix that day's National Football League championship game against the Chicago Bears. Mr. Hapes rejected the offer, but did mention the contact to his teammate, quarterback Frank Filchock. Mr. Hapes was suspended for the game by NFL Commissioner Bert Bell for not informing team officials, while Mr. Filchock was allowed to play. Both players were soon banned for life from the NFL, and continued their playing careers in Canada. Mr. Filchock's suspension was eventually lifted.

Football
NFL
Championship @ Polo Grounds, New York
Chicago Bears 24 New York Giants 14

Sid Luckman rushed 19 yards for a touchdown with 12:15 remaining in regulation time to break a 14-14 tie as the Bears defeated the Giants before 58,436 fans. The Bears had taken a 14-0 lead in the 1st quarter on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Mr. Luckman to Ken Kavanaugh and a 19-yard interception return for a touchdown by Dante Magnani, both converted by Frank Maznicki. Frank Filchock then threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Frank Liebel with 1:26 remaining in the 1st quarter, and Ken Strong's convert reduced the deficit to 14-7. The score remained the same until Mr. Filchock completed a 5-yard TD pass to Steve Filipowicz in the 3rd quarter, converted by Mr. Strong. Mr. Maznicki converted Mr. Luckman's touchdown and closed the scoring with a 26-yard field goal with 5:16 remaining.



AAFC
Chicago (5-6-3) 17 @ Los Angeles (7-5-2) 17

70 years ago
1951

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): My Truly, Truly Fair--Guy Mitchell; Donald Peers (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): It's No Sin--Eddy Howard and his Orchestra (Best Seller--1st week at #1; Disc Jockey--5th week at #1); Cold, Cold Heart--Tony Bennett (Jukebox--2nd week at #1);

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Down Yonder--Del Wood
--Joe "Fingers" Carr
--Champ Butler
2 (It's No) Sin--The Four Aces
--Eddy Howard
3 Because of You--Tony Bennett
--Les Baxter and his Orchestra
4 Cold, Cold Heart--Tony Bennett
5 Undecided--The Ames Brothers and Les Brown and his Band of Renown
6 I Get Ideas--Tony Martin
--Louis Armstrong
7 Slow Poke--Pee Wee King and his Golden West Cowboys
8 Charmaine--Mantovani and his Orchestra
9 Jealousy (Jalousie)--Frankie Laine
10 And So to Sleep Again--Patti Page

Singles entering the chart were Jingle Bells by Les Paul (#31); My Concerto, with versions by Ray Anthony and his Orchestra; and Tommy Edwards (#38); and Tell Me Why, with versions by the Four Aces; and Eddie Fisher (#39).

Politics and government
Americans for Democratic Action began a drive for repeal of the Smith Act, which prohibited the teaching or advocacy of forcible overhrow of the government.

Transportation
An International Air Transport Association conference in Nice agreed to introduce tourist-class transatlantic air service, costing $270 for a one-way ticket between London and New York.

Economics and finance
Switzerland abolished its fixed price of gold at $35 per ounce.

The Bolivian government charged that low tin prices paid by the United States were forcing the country toward an "imminent economic, political and social crisis."

Disasters
Philippine President Elpidio Quirino appealed for aid to 10,000 people made homeless by volcanic eruptions and typhoons which had struck the country in the past month.

60 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Tower of Strength--Frankie Vaughan (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Twilight Zone, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Once Upon a Time, starring Buster Keaton, Stanley Adams, and Jesse White

World events
A three-man Israeli court panel sentenced former Nazi official Adolf Eichmann to death by hanging, four days after he was convicted of all 15 charges against him. The charges were:

1/Causing the enslavement, deportation and murder of Jews;
2/Causing the deaths of millions of Jews;
3/Putting millions of Jews in ghettos, labour and concentration camps with the aim of destroying them (the Jews, that is);
4/Sending thousands of Gypsies to extermination camps;
5/Causing the inhuman treatment, deportation and murder of Jews in Axis-occupied areas;
6/Inflicting physical and mental harm on millions of Jews;
7/Planning a program for sterilization of Jews;
8/Deporting 100 Czechoslovakian children from Lidice to Poland, where they were killed;
9/Persecuting Jews on religious, racial, political and national grounds;
10/Appropriating Jewish property by force;
11/Deporting over 500,000 Poles;
12/Deporting 14,000 Slovenes;
13/Being a member of the SS;
14/Being a member of the Nazi Security Police;
15/Being a member of the Gestapo.

50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)--Benny Hill (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
Rod Serling's Night Gallery, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Messiah on Mott Street, starring Edward G. Robinson, Yaphet Kotto, and Tony Roberts; The Painted Mirror, starring Zsa Zsa Gabor, Arthur O'Connell, and Rosemary DeCamp

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Rahim Jaffer!

Politics and government
The Quebec National Assembly unanimously passed Bill 65, a measure from the Liberal government of Premier Robert Bourassa to reorganize health and social services in the province.

Economics and finance
The U.S.A., in an effort to resolve the world monetary crisis, announced that it was prepared to devalue the dollar as part of an international agreement to realign the rates of major currencies.

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Ja, wenn wir alle Englein wنren--Fred Sonnenschein und seine Freunde (5th week at #1)
2 Tainted Love--Soft Cell
3 Du entschuldige - i kenn' di--Peter Cornelius
4 Dance Little Bird--Electronica's
5 Pretend--Alvin Stardust
6 Japanese Boy--Aneka
7 Physical--Olivia Newton-John
8 Hooked on Classics--The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
9 Der Durscht--Ulli Bنer
10 Hold on Tight--Electric Light Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were Pretend; Der Durscht; It's Raining by Shakin' Stevens (#11); and Medley of Platters Songs by Rolling 60's (#19).

Music
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra performed a free lunch hour concert at the Edmonton Centre mall.

Terrorism
The Iraqi Shia Islamist group al-Dawa carried out one of the first modern suicide bombings, targeting the Iraqi embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, resulting in 61 deaths and 110 injuries.

30 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Black or White--Michael Jackson (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Black or White--Michael Jackson (3rd week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Let's Talk About Sex!--Salt-N-Pepa (5th week at #1)
2 Do the Limbo Dance--David Hasselhoff
3 (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams
4 Any Dream Will Do--Jason Donovan
5 Black or White--Michael Jackson
6 Always Look on the Bright Side of Life--Monty Python
7 Jambo--Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung
8 Love to Hate You--Erasure
9 Bacardi Feeling (Summer Dreamin')--Kate Yanai
10 Something Got Me Started--Simply Red

Singles entering the chart were Save Up All Your Tears by Cher (#27); and Dizzy by Vic Reeves & the Wonder Stuff (#29).

Protest
In Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Ronald George led British Columbia Indian chiefs protesting upcoming celebrations of the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's discovery of the New World. The chiefs asked the Spanish consul to apologize for Spanish oppression of natives.

25 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): No Woman, No Cry--The Fugees (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (ض3): Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)--Backstreet Boys (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Verpiss' dich--Tic Tac Toe

#1 single in Scotland (OCC): Knockin' on Heaven's Door/Throw These Guns Away--Dunblane

20 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Rufus Thomas, 84. U.S. entertainer. Mr. Thomas was a Memphis blues singer, songwriter, dancer, and disc jockey who had a career spanning more than 60 years. He was best known for his novelty dance hits such as Walking the Dog (1963); Do the Funky Chicken (1969); and (Do the) Push and Pull (1970). Mr. Thomas often performed duets with his daughter Carla. He died of heart failure.

Italiana
The Leaning Tower of Pisa reopened after 11 years and $27,000,000 spent to stabilize it, without fixing its famous lean.

10 years ago
2011

Died on this date
Bob Brookmeyer, 81. U.S. musician. Mr. Brookmeyer was a jazz trombonist, pianist, arranger, and composer whose career spanned more than 60 years. He performed in combos and bands led by artists such as Gerry Mulligan, Clark Terry, Jimmy Giuffre, and Stan Getz before becoming a session musician in Los Angeles in the late 1960s. A serious drinking problem hampered his career in the 1970s, but he overcame the habit, and was named music director of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra in 1979. Mr. Brookmeyer was nominated for eight Grammy Awards, with his last nomination, in the category of instrumental arrangement, coming shortly before his death from congestive heart failure, four days before his 82nd birthday.

Christopher Hitchens, 62. U.K.-born journalist. Mr. Hitchens was a Marxist and socialist who wrote for various magazines and newspapers in a career spanning 40 years. He moved to the United States in 1981 as part of an editor exchange program between the New Statesman and The Nation, and eventually became an American citizen in 2007. Mr. Hitchens was critical of American foreign policy in the 1980s, but broke with most leftist opinion in the 2000s when he supported the American war in Iraq. He also broke with the left when he criticized U.S. President Bill Clinton. Mr. Hitchens was, with Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, and Sam Harris, one of the "Four Horsemen" of the New Atheist movement in the mid-late 2000s, expressing his views in his book God is Not Great (2007). New Atheism was already a spent movement by the time Mr. Hitchens was diagnosed in 2010 with esophageal cancer, which likely resulted from decades of heavy smoking and drinking. He wrote essays on cancer, which were published as the book Mortality (2012) after his death from pneumonia.

Crime
A triple murder-suicide north of Claresholm, Alberta resulted in three people dead, including two members of the Lethbridge Bulls baseball team; a fourth survived.